Children with ADHD More Likely to Suffer from Mental Health Issues

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — A new study has found that children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are more likely to suffer from a number of mental health problems later in life.

According to the study, which is set to be published in the journal Pediatrics, almost thirty percent of children with childhood ADHD continued to deal with the disorder into adulthood.

The study also found that children diagnosed with childhood ADHD had higher rates of alcohol and drug use, anti-social personality disorder, anxiety and depression as compared to children without ADHD. Those children afflicted with ADHD also have a higher rate of suicide when they grow up, according to the study.

In fact, the study showed that just 37 percent of the ADHD afflicted children were free of mental health problems later in life.

The authors of the study say these grim numbers show an urgent need to improve long-term treatment of affected children, as well as working towards improved follow-up care as adults.